Category: Archive

Electrician’s bible found lacking

admin /20 February, 2007

The Wiring Rules AS/NZS 3000 is the standard applying to wiring of premises in Australia and New Zealand and is required to be followed by all electricians. This document (AS/NZS 3000:2000) currently contains no advice about EMF (Electric and Magnetic Fields) or how to reduce EMF exposure.

EMF exposure potential unknown: Reduction of EMF exposure is not generally warranted by the proven health effects of EMF. However, it is considered a useful “precautionary” or “prudent avoidance” measure to reduce exposure where scientific uncertainty remains and costs are very low for those who may be concerned.

Appendix for exposure minimisation info: The electricity industry was requested to propose an appendix providing advice on simple, low cost, wiring procedures that would reduce field exposure, especially when new electrical work was being done. The appendix would not be mandatory but informative so that interested members of the public could have EMF exposure minimised.

How to reduce EMF: The draft Appendix provided advice on five basic techniques that may be used in the design and installation processes to reduce EMF: reduce electrical current by using more energy efficient equipment for lift motors, air conditioning equipment and industrial motors and manufacturing equipment; balance circuits to minimise net magnetic fields; cancel magnetic fields by circuit installation arrangements that reduce distance between, or coordinate the relative placement of, all conductors in the same circuit; maximize distance between EMF sources and sensitive areas where the level, duration, affected persons or other consequences of exposure may warrant attention; and shield sources by containment or dispersal behind specialised barriers.

Standards Australia reviewing submissions: The Appendix on EMF reduction measures was included as part of the new draft standard that was issued for public comment in the middle of 2006. Standards Australia is reviewing comments received prior to issuing the new version of the Wiring Rules.

ELF standards submissions sought: Also on the ARPANSA web site – http://www.arpansa.gov.au – is the new draft ELF Standard which ARPANSA has developed over the last few years to replace the current National Health and Medical Research Council Guideline of 1989. This is open for public comment until 28 February 2007.

Thousands push for full public inquiry on Qld’s dams

admin /20 February, 2007

Democrats Senator Andrew Bartlett reiterated his, and the desire of many others for a full public inquiry into the environmental impacts of the Traveston Dam and also the Wyaralong Dam.

Thousands in support: “As Senator Ian Campbell, who is in the chamber, would know from his previous incarnation as Minister for the Environment and Heritage we pushed quite hard and tabled many petitions in this place, containing thousands of names of people wanting a full public inquiry under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.”

Wish not granted: Bartlett recognised that did not happen and that that he had other pressing matters to speak about.

Queensland to assess: “There is a bilateral agreement with the Queensland government. The position of the government is that the Queensland government has to conduct the assessment.

Government absolves all responsibility: “I note that Deputy Premier Anna Bligh, probably at a time when she was acting Premier, said the federal government could have done that if they wanted to and chose not to. I suspect that is just all part of the argybargy you get along the way. It does not really matter. The decision has been made.”

Queensland-controlled information: The result was that there was now an environmental impact assessment conducted under the Queensland government’s control.

Authority to ask for more info: Bartlett added that Senator Campbell was aware of this and the fact that as the federal environment minister, under the EPBC Act, “he has the ability to require more information to be provided if he or she—he at the moment obviously—is not satisfied with the adequacy of the assessment that has been done.”

Tassie’s drought impacts on hydro electricity

admin /18 February, 2007

Tasmania’s Great Lake has fallen to just 15.7 per cent of capacity and Hydro Tasmania storages overall have fallen to 27.4 per cent, says The Mercury (9/2/07, p. 1).

Cost of Basslink imports: Dry conditions have already cost Hydro a huge amount of money as it imports substantial amounts of power via Basslink. Hydro Tasmania energy and market analysis manager Michael Connarty said the reduction in generation from the 300-megawatt Poatina station would mean further imports to make up the shortfall of energy. We will continue to import fairly heavily over Basslink if the dry conditions continue. Our net import of electricity has been just over 1000 gigawatt hours to the end of January.”

Dams fails under climate change

admin /18 February, 2007

The drought is effecting dams across the country, which means power’s down for hydro dams. This is what the newspapers have been reporting this week  Snowy Hydro signals tight rein to conserve water  The largest lake in the Snowy Hydro scheme, Lake Eucumbene, has dropped to its lowest level ever and is less than 20 Continue Reading →

Bush fires fuell global warming

admin /16 February, 2007

According to a media release from the Honourable Eric Abetz, Senator (07/02/07), if Labor is serious about practical measures to address climate change, they will act on devastating climate changing bushfires.

More than Australia’s car emissions for year: This season’s bushfires have already pumped more than 40 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The 2003 bushfires pumped out more than 130 million tonnes, which is more than all of Australia’s cars for an entire year. It is almost a quarter of Australia’s total annual carbon dioxide emissions. Numerous inquiries, including the report into the aftermath of the 2003 Canberra fires have found that the size and intensity of these bushfires is being exacerbated by State (Labor) Government mismanagement of our forest reserves by not reducing fuel loads.

Rudd and Garrett to hold climate change ‘summit’: Mr Rudd and Mr Garrett have promised to hold a climate change ‘summit’. If Labor are serious about addressing climate change, rather than simply hand-wringing, they will pull the State Labor states into line on this critical greenhouse issue.

Burnt plantation wood classified äs `renewable

admin /16 February, 2007

Current bushfire conditions meant definitions in the Victorian Renewable Energy Target (VRET) rules should be sufficiently broad to encompass wood waste resulting from fire destroying a plantation, the Essential Services Commission (ESC) was told.

Hazelwood’s access to plantation waste: In a submission on the VRET framework paper and draft rules, International Power Australia (IPRA) said IPR Hazelwood had access to plantation wood waste that resulted from bushfire decimating a local plantation.

Plan to burn it as renewable: The plan for this wood waste was to burn it in windrows. Hazelwood rescued the timber from this process, instead seeking to burn the product as a renewable, since it was plantation timber.

Why it should meet eligibility criteria: IPRA said it believed this biomass would meet the eligibility criteria because:

• it was derived from a plantation which was established before 1989;

• it resulted from the clearance of the land; and

• there was no higher value for the material (since there was no other use for fire-damaged Radiata pine).

If not, then definitions need to be broader: However, should the ESC view be that this was not the case, IPRA would seek that the definitions be sufficiently broad as to encompass this potential source which may be repeatable, given current bushfire conditions.